View Categories

How to store and distribute chemicals?

Table of Contents

How to store and distribute chemicals?

In order to prevent accidents caused by or involving chemicals, chemicals must be stored properly. This ensures that no damage occurs to the installation, workers, and the surrounding neighbourhood as well as the environment.

What are the advantages of proper storage?

Proper chemical storage prevents accidents, protects people and assets, and keeps production running smoothly. Improper storage can result in ignition or explosions, corrode containers and create leaks, or release flammable and toxic gases that lead to fire or poisoning. Therefore, establishing and maintaining the right storage conditions reduces both the likelihood and the severity of incidents.

What are the legal requirements?

The EU Seveso Directive (i.e. the national legislation transposing the directive) defines requirements for “establishments” that store significant amounts of chemicals that could either cause or aggravate accidents or incidents in an installation.

Establishments covered by the Directive are mostly in the sectors of power generation, supply and distribution, fuel storage, chemicals production and wholesale and retail sale.

For the sites in question, implementing EU Seveso Directive requirements is more than just a compliance exercise, it directly limits major accident hazards and the company’s financial exposure (downtime, clean‑up, liability). The same logic applies to all storage areas: sound design and preventive maintenance are essential to controlling risk across the facility.

The EU Seveso Directive differentiates between facilities that store relevant amounts (lower-tier) and high amounts (upper-tier) of chemicals. To ascertain whether or not an establishment is covered and to which tier it belongs, the amounts of the chemicals classified within certain hazard classes (and) which are listed in the Annex of the Directive present in the establishment must be compared to threshold values.

Measures to be implemented by installations under the aegis of the Seveso Directive:

  • Inform the competent authority about which chemicals are present in the establishment,

  • Assess accident and incident risks and develop an accident prevention policy, including measures for prevention, preparedness, and responses to accidents,

  • Implement measures to minimise risks of accidents and incidents in the installation as part of the safety management system,

  • Develop emergency plans for (potentially various types of) accidents and incidents, including for communication to the authorities and neighbourhood,

  • Provide information in the event of accidents.

In addition to the above, upper-tier establishments must provide a so-called “safety report” and make internal emergency plans. 

Note: Legislation on transport of dangerous goods and protection of workers, including the ATEXDirective, c.f. Overview of Legislation, also applies to storage facilities.

Step-by-step implementation of storage

Assign a person who is responsible for safe storage in the company.

The person should receive training on safe storage, have access to all relevant information and sufficient time to implement the task. The employee responsible should oversee the receipt of all deliveries of chemicals and decide how they are to be stored.

Establish the baseline

Compile a current inventory that lists each substance or mixture along with its quantity (units) and exact location (and, if useful, container type and a unique ID). For every item, verify that an up-to-date Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is available, record the SDS version/date, and link the inventory entry to the corresponding SDS in a location accessible to staff.

Assess potential risks from the storage of chemicals

Identify the potential harm of chemicals checking hazardous properties related to storage. 

Information relevant to storage in safety data sheets (SDS):

  • Section 2: Hazards identification, 
  • Section 5: Firefighting measures,
  • Section 7: Handling and storage 
  • Section 10: Stability and Reactivity

Contact your supplier if you do not understand the information in SDS or if it is inconsistent. 

Assess which chemicals should not be stored together

Never store oxidising chemicals together with flammable liquids, and separate bases and acids.

Identify potential ignition sources in the vicinity of storage facilities and avoid them.

  • This could be open flames or electrical equipment operated nearby or in the storage facility.

  • Even environmental elements that are not necessarily obvious—such as heating pipes—can influence chemical stability, even if they do not produce an open flame or electrical source.

  • Ensure that the measures and tools to fight fires are compatible with all chemicals stored in the storage facility.

  • If this is not possible, provide instructions about which measures should be used for specific chemicals, and consider a further separation of chemicals according to the fire-fighting method.

Assess what type of measures could prevent harm

  • Check the containers in which chemicals are stored; they may be affected by chemicals stored nearby and could start leaking.

  • Moisture is also a critical factor for certain substances because it can significantly accelerate degradation or trigger unwanted reactions.

Take a broader perspective regarding the raw materials in the storage facility, as they may increase the chances of fire (e.g. wood or paper) or may react with chemicals (even if not hazardous).

Design measures to eliminate and control the risks

  • Eliminate risks, e.g. by reducing the amount of chemicals stored in general or disposing of chemicals that are not used. 
  • Substitution: if possible, chemicals posing safety risks should be substituted.
  • Technical measures: engineering controls to reduce storage risks could include ventilation of storage facilities and spill management systems to prevent that chemicals enter and contaminate other storage areas.
  • Organisational measures:
    • Separate incompatible chemicals in the storage facility as well as ignition sources. Use several smaller, well-separated stores instead of one large store to segregate incompatible chemicals and limit the quantity in any single location.
    • Separate workers from storage facilities. For example, separation could consist of creating a distance between chemicals and/or establishing barriers between chemicals (rooms, buildings, etc.).
    • Assess exposure of people: estimate how many workers could be affected in a worst case incident (e.g., fire, release) and site stores to minimize headcount at risk (distance from occupied areas, protected escape routes). 
  • Administrative measures: training of workers in accident prevention and fire-fighting measures, ensure proper labelling of chemicals, ensure aisles are free from obstacles, forklifts can operate safely within the storage facility or restricting the number of people that can access the storage facility.
  • Personal protective equipment: ensure protective gear is available to implement measures in the event of an accident.
  • Document changes: update the site plan, inventory limits, and emergency response arrangements after reorganization.

Review storage management

  • Review risk assessments and storage controls regularly.

  • Set the review frequency based on how often chemicals or conditions change.

  • Repeat worker safety training at defined intervals.

  • Check that controls remain effective (e.g., labels are legible, containers are intact, segregation is maintained, aisles are clear, and housekeeping in order).

  • Record findings and corrective actions to close any gaps identified.

Tools and Links